Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham ~ Book Review

 

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Beyond Ivy Walls 

Author: Rachel Fordham 

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 

Release Date: August 14, 2024 

Genre: Historical Romance 

 Reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, a recluse and a young woman discover that the scars of life are no match against an act of love. 

 Iowa, 1903. All of Monticello believes Otis Taylor has been away fostering his musical genius. But the truth is that his father exiled him long ago, rejecting Otis's appearance and the scars that came with it. Now that he is the last living Taylor, Otis has covertly returned to settle his family's affairs and rid himself of his past for good. However, he soon discovers that he may not have been the only discarded Taylor and begins a tireless search for his missing niece. 

 At twenty-three years old, Sadie West left her family farm and found employment at the Hoag feather duster factory. It isn't a romantic job, but she's hardly had a glimmer of romance since her beau went off to college, leaving her with no promise of a future together. Desperate to save money and help her family make ends meet, she trespasses and finds shelter in an abandoned building--and is thrown in the path of the town's mysterious bachelor. 

 Otis's wounds are deep, but as Sadie's friendship with him grows, she begins to fall for the man beneath the mask. The mystery of his long-lost niece, however, is more complex than either could have imagined, and Sadie may be the key to Otis Taylor finally finding his way home.

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My Thoughts

If you enjoy stories that have a trope reminiscent to fairy tale stories or classics then this may just the book for you. This carries a nod to Beauty and the Beast which is obvious in the characters and the way that they are described physically. You will be reminded of the beast character through Otis as well. I also picked up a hint of Little Women when meeting Sadie's sisters in the story. 

We meet Sadie right away who works in a a feather duster factory. She is trying to help her family out, now that her dad is not able to tend the farm due to an accident. She doesn't truly have a place to stay and so she basically becomes a squatter in an abandoned building. Otis returns home to Monticello after being sent away due to his physical appearance. Both his parents have passed and so has his brother so he returns to settle the estate and leave everything behind until he finds out that he may have a niece he has never met and also when he meets Sadie. 

I won't tell you the whole story because you have to make your own decisions about it and read it. I thought it was a sweet story. The romance was light and I feel like there were some things that were confusing for me. It wasn't until the end of the book when I read the authors notes that I finally had  some knowledge on what the condition that Otis suffered from was. The entire time I thought it was something his dad had done to him through all the remedies he was giving him and sending him away. Another part of the storyline that never was resolved completely was the presumed beau of Sadie. He sends her a note that they should meet and they never do and while that may have been insignificant to most, he was mentioned enough in the story that I thought he would make an appearance. 

Overall I thought it was a sweet story and perfect for any aged reader. If you enjoy books with a theme of story retelling then you will enjoy this book!

I received a copy of this book. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

About the Author

Rachel Fordham is the author of The Letter Tree, Where the Road Bends, A Lady in Attendance, A Life Once Dreamed, The Hope of Azure Springs, and Yours Truly, Thomas. Fans expect stories with heart and she delivers, diving deep into the human experience and tugging at reader emotions. She loves connecting with people, traveling to new places, and daydreaming about future projects that will have sigh-worthy endings and memorable characters. She is a busy mom, raising both biological, adopted and foster children (a cause she feels passionate about). She lives with her husband and children on an island in the state of Washington.

Connect with Rachel by visiting rachelfordham.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive print copies of the author’s previous 6 novels: The Hope of Azure Springs, Your's Truly, Thomas, A Life Once Dreamed, A Lady in Attendance, Where the Road Bends, and The Letter Tree!

(2) additional winners will receive one Rachel Fordham backlist print copy of their choice!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight August 7, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on August 14, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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